Class Three: The Lunar and Solar Year
Esbats and the Lunar Year
The moon is a very sacred symbol to most Pagans and Wiccans, since we associate it with the Goddess. Esbats, or celebrations of the lunar cycle, are honored by most practicing Pagans on a monthly to bi-monthly basis, acknowledging the full and new moons, utilizing the lunar powers to manifest or remove things from his or her life. In this chapter, we are going to briefly talk about the different moons and what they mean as well as correspondences associated with them.
January
January's moon is called the Wolf Moon. It is also known as Quiet Moon, Snow Moon, Cold Moon, Chaste Moon, Disting Moon, and the Moon of Little Winter. This moon honored Ch'ang-O, Chinese goddess of the bedchamber and protector of children. These are the attributes that are associated with the Wolf Moon:
Natural Spirits: gnomes, brownies
Herbs: marjoram, holy thistle, nuts and cones
Colors: brilliant white, blue violet, black
Flowers: snowdrop, crocus
Scents: musk, mimosa
Stones: garnet, onyx, jet, chrysoprase
Trees: birch
Animals: fox, coyote
Birds: pheasant, blue jay
Deities: Freya, Inanna, Sarasvati, Hera, Chang-O, and Sinn
Power Flow: Sluggish, below the surface: beginning and conceiving, protection, reversing spells, conserving energy by working on personal problems that involve no one else. Getting your various bodies to work smoothly together for the same goal.
February
February's moon is called the Ice Moon. Also known as the Storm Moon, Horning Moon, Hunger Moon, Wild Moon, Red and Cleansing Moon, Quickening Moon, Solmonath (Sun Mouth), and Big Winter Moon. These are the attributes associated with the Ice Moon:
Natural Spirits: house fairies, both of the home itself and of houseplants
Herbs: Balm of Gilead, hyssop, myrrh, sage, spikenard
Colors: Light blue, violet
Flowers: Primrose
Scents: Wisteria, heliotrope
Stones: Amethyst, jasper, rock crystal
Trees: Rowan, laurel, cedar
Animals: Otter, unicorn
Birds: Eagle, chickadee
Deities: Brigit, Juno, Kwan Yin, Diana, Persephone, Aphrodite
Power Flow: Energy working toward the surface, purification, growth, healing, loving the self, accepting responsibility for past errors, forgiving yourself and making future plans.
March
March's moon is known as the Storm Moon. It is also known as the Storm Moon. It is also known as the Seed Moon, Moon of Winds, Plow Moon, Worm Moon, Hrethmonath (Hertha's Moon), Lentzinmanoth (Renewal Moon), Lenting Moon, Sap Moon, Crow Moon, and the Moon of the Snowblind. These are the attributes associated with the Storm Moon:
Natural Spirits: Mer-people, Air and Water beings whom are connected with Spring rains and storms
Herbs: Broom, high john root, yellow dock, wood betony, Irish moss
Colors: pale green, red violet
Flowers: Jonquil, daffodil, violet
Scents: Honeysuckle, apple blossom
Stones: Aquamarine, bloodstone
Trees: Alder, dogwood
Animals: Cougar, hedgehog, boar
Birds: Sea crow, sea eagle
Deities: Black Isis, the Morrigan, Hecate, Cybele, Astarte, Athene, Minerva, Artemis, Luna
Power Flow: Energy breaks into the open, growing, prospering, exploring, new beginnings, balance of light and dark. Breaking illusions, seeing the truth in your life however much it may hurt.
April
April's moon is called the Growing Moon. It is also known as the Hare Moon, Seed Moon, Planting Moon, Planter's Moon, Budding Trees Moon, Eastermonath (Eostre Moon), Ostarmanoth, Pink Moon, and the Green Grass Moon. These are the attributes associated with the Growing Moon:
Natural Spirits: plant fairies
Herbs: basil, chives, dragon's blood, geranium, thistle
Colors: crimson red, gold
Flowers: daisy, sweet pea
Scents: pine, bay, bergamont, patchouli
Stones: ruby, garnet, sard
Trees: pine, bay, hazel
Animals: bear, wolf
Birds: hawk, magpie
Deities: Kali, Hathor, Anahita, Ceres, Ishtar, Venus, Bast
Power Flow: energy into creating and producing, return balance to the nerves, change, self-confidence, self-reliance, take advantage of opportunities. Work on temper and emotional flare ups and selfishness.
May
May's moon is known as the Hare Moon. It is also known as the Merry Moon, Dyad Moon, Bright Moon, Flower Moon, Frogs Return Moon, Thrimilcmonath (Thrice Milk Moon), Sroutkale, Winnemanoth (Joy Month), Planting Moon, and the Moon when the Ponies Shed. These are the attributes that are associated with the Hare Moon:
Natural Spirits: faeries, elves
Herbs: dittany of Crete, elder, mint, rose, mugwort, thyme, yarrow
Colors: green, brown, pink
Flowers: lily of the valley, foxglove, rose, broom
Scents: rose, sandalwood
Stones: emerald, malachite, amber, carnelian
Trees: hawthorn
Animals: cats, lynx, leopard
Birds: swallow, dove, swan
Deities: Bast, Venus, Aphrodite, Maia, Diana, Artemis, Pan, and the Horned God
Power Flow: full creating energy, propagation, intuition, contact with fairies and other supernatural beings, strengthen connection with supernatural protectors and beings around you, and the power flowing from the Greenwood Gods and trees.
June
June's moon is known as the Mead Moon. It is also known as the Moon of Horses, Lovers Moon, Strong Sun Moon, Honey Moon, Aerra Litha (Before Lithia), Brachmanoth (Break Month), Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon, and the Moon of Making Fat. These are the attributes associated with the Mead Moon:
Natural Spirits: sylphs, zephyrs
Herbs: meadowsweet, vervain, tansy, dog grass, parsley, mosses
Colors: orange, golden green
Flowers: lavender, orchid, yarrow
Scents: lily of the valley, lavender
Stones: topaz, agate, alexandrite, fluorite
Trees: oak
Animals: monkey, butterfly, fly, toad
Birds: wren, peacock
Deities: Aine of Knockkaine, Isis, Neith, Green Man, Cerridwen, Bendis, Ishtar
Power Flow: full but restful energy, protect, strengthen and prevent, a time of light, earth tides are turning. Decision making, taking responsibility for present happenings, work on personal inconsistencies, strengthen and reward yourself for your positive traits.
July
July's moon is known as the Hay Moon. It is also known as the Wort Moon, Moon of Claiming, Moon of Blood (because of mosquitoes), Blessing Moon, Maedmonath (Meadow Month), Hewimanoth (Hay Month), Fallow Moon, Buck Moon, and the Thunder Moon. These are the attributes that are associated with the Hay Moon:
Natural Spirits: hobgoblins (small grotesque but friendly brownie type creatures), faeries of harvested crops
Herbs: honeysuckle, agrimony, lemon balm, hyssop
Colors: silver, blue-gray
Flowers: lotus, water lily, jasmine
Scents: orris, frankincense
Stones: pearl, moonstone, white agate
Trees: oak, acacia, ash
Animals: crab, turtle, dolphin, whale
Birds: starling, ibis, swallow
Deities: Khepera, Athena, Juno, Hel, Holda, Cerridwen, Nephthys, Venus
Power Flow: relaxed energy, preparing, succeeding, dream work, divination, and meditation on goals and plans, especially spiritual ones.
August
August's moon is called the Corn Moon. It is also known as the Barley Moon, Dispute Moon, Weodmonath (Vegetation Month), Harvest Moon, and the Moon When the Cherries Turn Black. These are the attributes that are associated with the Corn Moon:
Natural Spirits: dryads
Herbs: chamomile, St. John's Wort, bay, angelica, fennel, rue, orange
Colors: brilliant white, blue violet, black
Flowers: sunflower, marigold
Scents: frankincense, heliotrope
Stones: cat’s eye, carnelian, jasper, fire agate
Trees: hazel, alder, cedar
Animals: lion, phoenix, sphinx, dragon
Birds: crane, falcon, eagle
Deities: Ganesha, Thoth, Hathor, Diana, Hecate, Nemesis
Power flow: energy into harvesting, gathering, appreciating, vitality, health, friendships.
September
September's Moon is called the Harvest Moon. It is also known as the Wine Moon, Singing Moon, Sturgeon Moon, Haligmonath (Holy Month), Witumonath (Wood Month), and the Moon Where the Deer Paw the Earth. These are the attributes that are associated with the Harvest Moon:
Natural Spirits: trooping faeries
Herbs: copal, fennel, rye, wheat, valerian, skullcap
Colors: brown, yellow-green, yellow
Flowers: narcissus, lily
Scents: storax, mastic, gardenia, bergamont
Stones: peridot, olivine, chrysolite, citrine
Trees: hazel, larch, bay
Animals: snake, jackal
Birds: ibis, sparrow
Deities: Demeter, Ceres, Isis, Nephthys, Freya, Ch'ang-O, Thoth
Power Flow: rest after labor, balance of light and dark, organize, clean and straighten up physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual clutter
October
October's moon is called the Blood Moon. It is also known as the Harvest Moon, Shedding Moon, Winterfelleth (Winter Coming), Windermanoth (Vintage Month), Falling Leaf Moon, Ten Colds Moon, and the Moon of the Changing Season. These are the attributes that are associated with the Blood Moon:
Natural Spirits: frost faeries, plant faeries
Herbs: pennyroyal, thyme, catnip, uva ursi, angelica, burdock
Colors: dark blue-green
Flowers: calendula, marigold, cosmos
Scents: strawberry, apple blossom, cherry
Stones: opal, tourmaline, beryl, turquoise
Trees: yew, cypress, acacia
Animals: stag, jackal, elephant, ram, scorpion
Birds: heron, crow, robin
Deities: Ishtar, Astarte, Demeter, Kore, Lakshmi, Horned God, Belili, Hathor
Power Flow: to let go, inner cleansing, karma and reincarnation, justice and balance, inner harmony
November
November's moon is called the Snow Moon. It is also know as the Dark Moon, Fog Moon, Beaver Moon, Mourning Moon, Blotmonath (Sacrifice Moon), Herbistmanoth (Harvest Moon), Mad Moon, Moon of Storms, and the Moon When the Deer Shed Antlers. These are the attributes that are associated with the Snow Moon:
Natural Spirits: subterranean faeries
Herbs: grains of paradise, verbena, betony, borage, cinquefoil, blessed thistle
Colors: gray, sea green
Flowers: blooming cacti, chrysanthemum
Scents: cedar, cherry blossoms, hyachinth, narcissus, peppermint, lemon
Stones: topaz, hyacinth, lapis lazuli
Trees: alder, cypress
Animals: unicorn, scorpion, crocodile, jackal
Birds: owl, goose, sparrow
Deities: Kali, Black Isis, Nicnevin, Hecate, Bast, Osiris, Sarasvati, Lakshmi, Skadi, Mawu
Power Flow: take root, prepare, transformation, strengthen communication with the God and Goddess who seem closest to you
December
December's moon is called the Cold Moon. It is also known as the Oak Moon, Wolf Moon, Moon of Long Nights, Long Night's Moon, Aerra Geola (Month before Yule), Wintermonath (Winter Month), Heilagmanoth (Holy Month), Big Winter Moon, and the Moon of Popping Trees. These are the attributes that are associated with the Cold Moon:
Natural Spirits: snow faeries, storm faeries, and winter tree faeries
Herbs: holly, English ivy, fir, mistletoe
Colors: blood red, white, black
Flowers: holly, poinsettia, Christmas cactus
Scents: violet, patchouli, rose, geranium, frankincense, myrrh, lilac
Stones: serpentine, jacinth, peridot
Trees: pine, fir, holly
Animals: mouse, deer, horse, bear
Birds: rook, robin, snowy owl
Deities: Hathor, Hecate, Neith, Athena, Minerva, Ixchel, Osiris, Norns, Fates
Power Flow: to endure, die, be reborn, earth tides turning, darkness, personal alchemy, spiritual paths, reach out to friends and family, the lonely and the needy.
2nd Full Moon in a Month
The second full moon that is in the same month is called a Blue Moon. It is also known as the Moon of the Dead, Hunting Moon, Ancestors Moon, and the Hunter's Moon. There aren't generally correspondences with these moons since in depends on what month they fall in. However, they are seen as good luck and the most powerful of all moons.
Full Moons and New Moons
Full moons and new moons have different magick associated with them. Generally, full moons are used to bring about changes, manifest things in your life, charging items and cleansing tools, all things we will get into later. For new moons, we generally do magick to let go of bad relationships, habits, or situations that are affecting our immediate life. However, it is totally up to you personally as to which feels right to you. As for the power of the moons, they have a doorway of three days: the day before, the day of, and the day after.
Sabbats and the Solar Year
What is a Sabbat?
A Sabbat, which is a holy day, is said to come from the Dionysic rites in which Dionysus was also known as "Sabadius" or "Sabazius". The celebrants of his Mystery tradition cried out "Sabai" or "Evoi Sabai" during their rituals, and such gatherings may have therefore come to be known as the time of the Sabbat. The earliest Witches Sabbat ever recorded was from the trial records from Toulouse and Carassone, circa 1335. These celebrations are done to mark the changing of the season. Where the Esbats are most sacred celebrations of the Goddess, the Sabbats are sacred celebrations of the God. These Sabbats marked solar movement, creating the solar calendar, which we refer to as the Wheel of the Year.
What are Greater and Lesser Sabbats?
The Greater Sabbats were Sabbats that the Celts celebrated prior to the invasion of the Saxons. These Sabbats marked different quarters of their year and represented seasonal changes within their climate. These Greater Sabbats were Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnassadh, and Samhain. The Lesser Sabbats were introduced and adopted by the Celts from the northern invaders. These Sabbats celebrated the Equinoxes and Solstices, days that marked equality and the longest and shortest days of the year. These were Yule, Ostara, Litha, and Mabon.
Imbolc
Imbolc, also known as Candlemass, is a Celtic Sabbat celebration on Feb. 2nd. This is the mid-winter celebration. This Sabbat is in honor of Brigid and is one of the Greater Sabbats. On this Sabbat, the Goddess, symbolically speaking, has come to her marriage bed to await the Sun God. The sun is growing, and although this time of the year was the coldest, it still represented a possiblity for spring. At this point, families had to figure out whether or not they would make it throughout the rest of the winter. They would offer up milk, the representation of life, that which comes from the mother to feed her child, as a symbol of reverence and thanks. This was a time to welcom the light, inviting it to grow in the sky. The Goddess, Maiden, waited for the God, who was still in his youth, young and new to the world around him. Making Brigid's Crosses were one way they would create something to protect their home. To represent this longing for the union of the Lord and Lady, one would make a corn dolly, sometimes using the same one made from Lammas, and place it in a basket with a loaf of bread in the shape of a phallus. Soem herbs and woods associated with Imbolc are carnations, dragon's blood, cedar, wheat, and hay.
Ostara
Ostara is named for the Germanic Goddess Eostre, which is where the original form of the name Easter comes from. This day is the Spring Equinox, when day and night are equal, and falls on or around March 21st through 23rd. This is a time of fertility, which could be seen in the peaking of green through the snow and the birthing of baby animals, such as ewes and ducklings. The story of the Easter Bunny derives from the Pagan myth about the Goddess Eostre. There was a rabbit who was in love with the Goddess. One night he laid a beautifully decorated egg in the Goddess's honor. So pleased with his gift, Eostre asked that he would on the same night every year, lay these colorful eggs for all the children of the world. Some herbs and woods associated with Ostara are daisies, willow, tulips, and other lightly fragranced flowers.
Beltane
Beltane, also known as May Day, is a Celtic Fertility festival, which always falls on May 1st. At this time, the Lord and Lady are young and fertile, dancing about in the fields. Pagans would light large bon fires to keep away the evil spirits and would run their cattle between two large bon fires to hex them for health and luck. At this night, it is said to be a fairy Sabbat, and offerings are to be made to the fairies, to ensure good and prosperous year ahead. On this day, Pagans would dance around the May Pole, which represented the male phallus, which was inserted into the earth, representing the vagina, wrapping red and white ribbons around the pole, which represented blood and milk, ensuring a good planting. This is the night that God and Goddess come together, and the God impregnates the Goddess with his child, which will be born at Yule. Herbs and woods associated with Beltane are lavender, chamomile, willow, and oak.
Litha
Litha, which is also known as Midsummer or the Summer Solstice, falls on or around June 20th to 22nd. This day, the longest day, is also known as the first day of summer. It marks the Horned God's peak of power, when he is mighty and strong. This is also the night of the fairies, and it is said that if one goes into the woods on this night, intentionally looking for the fairies, he or she will be lost forever. But if one is ignorant and gets lost in the woods on this night, the fairies will take him or her in, invited to the fairies feast and then led home before the dawn. Herbs and woods associated with this Sabbat are pungent scents like rose, honeysuckle, ash, birch, and hickory.
Lammas
Lammas, which is the Christianized term for Lugnassadh, is a Celtic Harvest Festival. On this day, which in most places around the world begins the harvesting. This is the sacrifice of the God's blood upon the earth, so that his children shall eat. Most harvesting is done at this time, and most Pagans would can and prepare food for the winter. In celebration of the God's sacrifice, the local Pagans would feast a great feast, making offerings of Bread and Honey to the God. In early Pagan times, offerings would have been a criminal or volunteer who offered themselves to the Gods. As time went on, the Pagans found this act to be barbaric, and changed the custom to a representation of man, who was called John Barleycorn. He would be made of corn and then placed into the fire. There would be corn dollies made to represent his companion, the pregnant Mother Goddess, who would stand by while her King dies, as does the sun. Herbs and woods associated with Lughnassadh are corn, wheat, barley, berries, and grains.
Mabon
Mabon is named for the God Mabon, a God of Harvest and Wine. This is the Fall Equinox, even in day and night, which usually falls on the 20th to 22nd of September. This is like a Pagan Thanksgiving when there is usually a large feast. Mabon is a time where the God is slowly dying, losing his power as it is seen in the daytime sky. It starts to get darker sooner, showing us that winter will soon be here. This harvest festival is a time to make wine and mead and breads and to do our last bit of canning. This Sabbat is also a time to remember the dead, who will return to us at Samhain, by making wreaths and other adornments for gravestones. Herbs and woods associated with this Sabbat are grapes, apples, pumpkins, oak and walnut.
Samhain
Samhain, also known as Halloween or Ol'Hallows Eve, is the last of the four Greater Sabbats, and by far, the most important Pagan festival. This night is condsidered the Witches New Year. On this night, the night of the last harvest, the God has died, and the Goddess becomes a Crone. She is old and barren, yet within her grows new life, the life of the Great God. At this time of the year, most of the leaves are gone from the trees and everything has been harvested, leaving the earth to look empty. This is a time of reflection and rememberance, since this is the time that the veils between the planes are the thinnest and the essence of the dead come back to visit. Most Pagans would remember the Ancient Ones and their ancestors, offering them the Feast of the Dead. They would place plates of food out for the dead to feed upon and place ligthed jack o lanterns to help light the way. Herbs and woods associated with Samhain are dragon's blood, pomegrannates, pumpkins, gourds and patchouli.
Yule
Yule, the last of eight Sabbats, is the Winter Solstice, the first day of winter and the longest night. Yule usually falls around the 20th to 22nd of December. This is the night that our Sun God returns, being born of the Goddess. This is a time to celebrate the coming of the sun, acknowledging its importance in our lives. Although it is still a long and cold time from spring, we welcome the birth of the sun as a promise of warmer times. The wheel of the year is complete as it starts anew. Herbs and woods associated with Yule are cinnamon, bayberry, ash, birch, pine, mistletoe, and holly.
The celebration of the seasons changing is practice that has been with us since the beginning of time. Knowing and understanding what each of these Sabbats meant to our ancestors and how they were celebrated. Making and creating your own traditions are what makes the Sabbats so special. Always remember, as long as you are giving reverence, then you are doing everything else just right.
HOMEWORK:
Write a paragraph about what each sabbat means to you.
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